Foles not yet admitting to losing QB battle

QB battle appears to be going to Vick.

August 18, 2013|By Nick Fierro, Of The Morning Call

PHILADELPHIA — — Phase 2 of training camp has begun for the Philadelphia Eagles, who have closed off their practices to all but about 300 daily VIP guests of the team for five more days beginning with Sunday's session.

After that, nobody will be able to watch coach Chip Kelly and his staff install the rest of their schemes and game plans — the one exception being the last of five totally open practices at Lincoln Financial Field, which will be held Aug. 26.

The media is only allowed on the field for the first 20 minutes or so, essentially to get photographs and videos. This policy will remain for the rest of the season, as NFL rules allow.

So most of what happens on the field from this point will come from the players and coaches themselves.

With that in mind, here is what Nick Foles had to say about the quarterback competition he appears to be losing to Michael Vick and the way repetitions were split on Sunday.

"Nothing has really changed. We're going at it like we have been," he said.

So there you have it.

Only it's a little more complicated than that.

For the first time since the start of camp, coach Chip Kelly broke with his routine of alternating the days that each quarterback would get the first set of reps with the first-team offense. Vick, who came out first on Saturday and took most of the first-team reps, also came out first on Sunday, right before reporters were evicted.

But Foles still claimed the two split the reps evenly, backing up what Kelly said the day before that no decision has even been made about the starter for Game 3 of the preseason Saturday at Jacksonville, much less the regular season.

Foles on Sunday was asked if he still thought he had a legitimate shot.

That didn't sound like a "yes," but there's really no telling for sure what Kelly is thinking, and there might not be until Kelly announces his starter for the August 29 preseason finale against the New York Jets. Traditionally, the most valued starters of each NFL team do not see action in their final preseason game.

BAMIRO MAKING PROGRESS

Pocono Mountain West graduate Michael Bamiro remains a longshot to make the team after being signed as a rookie free agent tackle right before training camp, but the coaching staff is convinced he's doing everything he can to make up for missing out on all the valuable offseason activity that is especially valuable for first-year players.

"Yeah, big Mike is one of those guys that's really improved," offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. "He came in, you didn't know what to expect and he's one of those guys that each day he does something and you say, `wow, this guy's got a chance to be something some day."

POSITION CHANGE

Rookie Isaac Remington has apparently been switched from defensive end to offensive line, trading in his white No. 61 jersey for a green No. 52 on Sunday. But a team source said the switch was temporary, and he is still listed as a defensive end.